Grand Rapids adopts plan to upgrade city street system

The City of Grand Rapids is adopting a plan upgrading its city street system.

Grand Rapids has approved a plan for making its street system more accessible, inviting and safe.

The city commission recently adopted the Grand Rapids Vital Streets Plan. It lists best practices and design goals for streets and rights of way. Officials say "vital" streets are intended to serve all people in a community, regardless of what form of transportation they use. They should be well-maintained, manage storm water effectively and contribute to livable neighborhoods and economic development.

The initiative arose from a 2013 task force report that found over 60 percent of the streets in Michigan's second-largest city were in poor shape.

The group recommended spending $22 million annually on street improvements for 15 years.

Voters approved an income tax renewal to pay for street and sidewalk upgrades.